Geographical Indication (GI)

• Geographical indication (GI) of goods is a sign used for products that originate either from 
• a particular country or 
• a specific location in a country . 
• Typically , these products are manufactured by using traditional knowledge of communities
• The registration is valid for 10 years, after which it can be renewed.
• After registration, any producer in the location fulfilling the required conditions can apply to become an authorised user. Any infringement of the GI is punishable

How is a GI different from a trade mark?

• Trademark - an identification mark for the company manufacturing a particular good, 
• A trademark can be licenced to any other manufacturer operating anywhere in the world. 
• GI - identifies the place of a product's origin as the quality of the good is linked to the production location rather than the company .
• GI goods can be produced by any person or company but have to be manufactured at a particular location with a minimum standard associated with the product.

[Ref: ToI]